1 Chronicles 2:9-17: a reflection

9The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz, 12and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; 13and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, 14Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh; 16and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. 17Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

This genealogy traces a line through the generations: Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and on through Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, to David. It is a chain of ordinary names, most of whom we know little about, each an ordinary link, generation after generation. And yet this ordinary chain was leading somewhere: to David, and through David, in time, to Christ. God was working through the ordinary generations toward his great purpose.

Notice what this chain of ordinary names was: God's patient work through generations toward his purpose. Each name in the list was an ordinary person, living an ordinary life, mostly unknown to us; and yet each was a link in a chain God was weaving toward something great, the line that would lead to David, and ultimately to the Messiah. God was at work, patiently, through generation after generation of ordinary people, accomplishing his purpose through the long chain of ordinary lives.

That is worth pondering, for we too may be ordinary links in a chain God is weaving toward purposes we cannot see. Each of the names in this list was ordinary, and could not have seen the great purpose their ordinary life was serving. And so it may be with us: we may be ordinary links in a chain God is weaving toward purposes beyond our sight, our ordinary lives and faithfulness serving a larger purpose we cannot yet see. Do not despise your own ordinary life and faithfulness as insignificant; God works through ordinary generations, ordinary people, toward his great purposes. You may be a link in a chain God is weaving toward something you cannot see; be faithful in your ordinary life, as these were in theirs, trusting that God works through ordinary lives, patiently, across generations, toward purposes beyond our sight, as he worked through this chain of ordinary names toward David and toward Christ.

Lord, this genealogy traces a line through the generations, a chain of ordinary names, most of whom we know little about, each an ordinary link, leading to David, and through David, in time, to Christ. Help me ponder what this chain was: your patient work through generations toward your purpose. Each name was an ordinary person, living an ordinary life, mostly unknown to us; yet each was a link in a chain you were weaving toward something great. You were at work, patiently, through generation after generation of ordinary people, accomplishing your purpose through the long chain of ordinary lives. That is worth pondering, for I too may be an ordinary link in a chain you are weaving toward purposes I cannot see. Each of these names was ordinary, and could not have seen the great purpose their ordinary life was serving. And so it may be with me. Keep me from despising my own ordinary life and faithfulness as insignificant; you work through ordinary generations, ordinary people, toward your great purposes. I may be a link in a chain you are weaving toward something I cannot see; help me be faithful in my ordinary life, as these were in theirs, trusting that you work through ordinary lives, patiently, across generations, toward purposes beyond my sight, Lord.